Visiting Chiang Mai - Overnight "guest" An Issue ?

[Steve2UK]

Hi All,

I'm planning to visit Chiang Mai for about 4 weeks in Jan/Feb 2005 - I'm going to be looking around with a view to moving there permanently from the UK later in the year. Because I'll need to have access to some business-type facilities (e.g. laptop phone connection in the room), at least to begin with I'll probably need to stay in a relatively "straight" mid-range hotel (e.g. Pornping Tower or Lotus Pang Suan Kaew) and I'm wondering if I might have any difficulty/embarassment when I have an overnight "guest" ?

On previous (leisure) visits to CM, I've stayed mainly in gay places like Cherry House and Coffee Boy Cottages - so, obviously, no such question there (they'd be kind of of puzzled if you didn't have an overnight "friend" . I've stayed in various hotels in BKK and never had any difficulty - just the usual business of guest leaving his ID at the front desk and I occasionally had to pay a "guest supplement" (Tawana Ramada - but then it is just round the corner from Patpong). Similarly, no problem when I've stayed at a serviced apartment in BKK.

Given that Chiang Mai's a smaller place, do you think I need to choose the hotel (and maybe later in the visit a guesthouse) carefully - with the male "guest" factor in mind? Or is it really not an issue at all? BTW, I pride myself on showing "correct/polite" behaviour in Thailand (without wanting to seem smug, it comes naturally to me and I like it)........... so I expect to behave discreetly.

On a related point, what do you think about this policy of some places charging a supplement for an overnight guest? Given that I usually book a large (i.e. effectively double) room for myself, it seems a bit much to be charged maybe another 500 baht as a kind of "pleasure tax" when someone joins me in it.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the above. Oh - and a Happy Christmas to all my readers!

[jdinasia]

Pornping tower would not be a problem :-)

[Ijustwannateach]

I don't know so much about Chiang Mai- you might ask Peaceblondie, he lives up there!

My opinion of the practice? Well, a hotel is a private establishment, so I guess they can charge their customers as they like- but on the other hand, if they want our money, they'd better make us happy to be there...

Middle- to lower- range accommodation catering also to travelling Thais usually doesn't care how many people you put in the room- you pay one price. In fact, as a single traveller you might be paying slightly too much comparatively because the prices assume you're not alone!

However, the bigger hotels catering to "Westerners" might have to follow blanket company policies affecting their brands worldwide, so they may not have any choice. There've been some quite long threads on various forums about straights complaining that the big brand hotels would try to charge them for their wives....

I guess it's just one of the additional costs of using the touristy places! Let us know how it turns out!

"Steven"

[PeaceBlondie]

My first several nights in Thailand were at Tawana Ramada, and in addition to charging VAT plus service charge, their additional charge for a 'guest' made the total well over 3,000 baht/night. We got better accomodations at China Princess for 2,000, no surcharge for guests (but the service providers who come to the hotel have you meet them at the front door).

I doubt they'd charge extra in CMai, but you never know. I can't imagine they would, either. Even a downtown Holiday Inn in Shanghai, China didn't object, or charge extra. When I was night manager at a Holiday Inn, we didn't object.

If you didn't want such luxury, any of the places listed on dreadedned.com would not charge extra for guests, but you need something more upscale.

[Steve2UK]

I don't know so much about Chiang Mai- you might ask Peaceblondie, he lives up there!

My opinion of the practice?  Well, a hotel is a private establishment, so I guess they can charge their customers as they like- but on the other hand, if they want our money, they'd better make us happy to be there...

Middle- to lower- range accommodation catering also to travelling Thais usually doesn't care how many people you put in the room- you pay one price.  In fact, as a single traveller you might be paying slightly too much comparatively because the prices assume you're not alone!

However, the bigger hotels catering to "Westerners" might have to follow blanket company policies affecting their brands worldwide, so they may not have any choice.  There've been some quite long threads on various forums about straights complaining that the big brand hotels would try to charge them for their wives....

I guess it's just one of the additional costs of using the touristy places!  Let us know how it turns out!

"Steven"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My first several nights in Thailand were at Tawana Ramada, and in addition to charging VAT plus service charge, their additional charge for a 'guest' made the total well over 3,000 baht/night.  We got better accomodations at China Princess for 2,000, no surcharge for guests (but the service providers who come to the hotel have you meet them at the front door). 

I doubt they'd charge extra in CMai, but you never know.  I can't imagine they would, either.  Even a downtown Holiday Inn in Shanghai, China didn't object, or charge extra.  When I was night manager at a Holiday Inn, we didn't object.

If you didn't want such luxury, any of the places listed on dreadedned.com would not charge extra for guests, but you need something more upscale.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks to both IJWT & PeaceBlondie for the comments. I'm not actually looking for luxury as such - just need a phone in the room to use my laptop (and I guess that that inevitably brings the rest with it - thus "upscale"). Looks like Seven Suns Guesthouse could be the happy medium (in all respects) .

I actually posted on the Chiang Mai forum looking for a short-term (i.e. about a month) condo/small house to rent because it's closer to the way I'll be living when I move to CM permanently later on - but no luck so far. Still grateful for any suggestions/offers in that line.

Mai pen rai....... it will happen one way or another .

Thanks again.

Steve

[ProThaiExpat]

http://www.hotels.chiangmai-online.com/index.html#rates

Check out this website for the best rates at the better hotels. Once you decide on which you like, e-mail them with the question regarding surcharge for overnight guests and phrase your question so it is clear you won't book if they have such a policy.

Many will waive the fee if you negotiate the room rate up front and keep your e-mail response for your check in.

Likewise question them on what in-room facilities they have for internet and what are the charges to hook up through their switchboard.

[Steve2UK]

http://www.hotels.chiangmai-online.com/index.html#rates

Check out this website for the best rates at the better hotels.  Once you decide on which you like, e-mail them with the question regarding surcharge for overnight guests and phrase your question so it is  clear you won't book if they have such a policy.

Many will waive the fee if you negotiate the room rate up front and keep your e-mail response for your check in.

Likewise question them on what in-room facilities they have for internet and what are the charges to hook up through their switchboard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks PTE - that's good advice on all counts.